Awning frame



Jan. 16, 1934. H. s. WILSON Er AL AWNING FRAME Filed NOV. l, 1952 I:SEELS f Patented Jan. 16, 1934 UNITED STATES AWNING FRAME Henry S.Wilson and Henry Lauten, New York, N. Y.

Application November 1, 1932. Serial No. 640,607

6 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in awning frames.

The invention has for an object the construction of an awning framewhich is characterized by a novel junction between an arm and supportarm thereof adapted to be extended and to bend to a collapsed positionin a simple and efficient manner.

As a further object of this invention it is particularly proposed toconstruct a novel junction to include a substantially U-shaped bend onone end of the arm and the outer arm of the U-shaped bend being formedwith an out-turned free end, the bend and the said outer arm having alongitudinal slot, and to support said arm by the provision of asupporting screw engaging through the slot and mounted upon a supportarm in a fashion so that said arm may be pivoted by sliding over thehead of said screw.

Furthermore, with references to the previous paragraph it is alsocontemplated to so arrange the support arm with the out-turned free endof the outer arm of the U-shape to form an abutment to limit pivoting ofthe arm in one direction.

Still further it is proposed to arrange the novel junction incombination with a lazy tong structure and with certain links in amanner so as to obtain a folding awning frame thus equipped.

Furthermore, it is proposed to provide an arrangement where portions ofsaid frame resiliently assume positions necessary in allowing thecollapsed and extending of the awning frame.

Still further the invention proposes the construction of a device asmentioned which is simple and durable and which may be manufactured andsold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a building having a windowequipped with an awning constructed according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse elevational view of one of the sides of theawning frame.

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the awning frame per se.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view similar to a portion of Fig. 3 but showinga modified arrangement particularly of the joint between certain parts55. forming the frame.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of another awning having a frame ofdifferent construction but in which the same purpose of the invention isembodied.

Fig. 6 is a view of the frame used in the awning shown in Fig. 5, butillustrated in a folded condition.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged detailed View of one of the frontcorners of the awning illustrated in Fig. 5 shown in detail with theawning in section.

Fig. 8 is a front edge elevational view of Fig. '1.

Referring rst to the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1-3inclusive an awning 10 has been shown in an extended position over theWindow 11 of a building 12. The awning 10 is shown upon a suitableroller mounted upon the building by supports 13. The details of thesupports for mounting of the awning upon the roller will not be givenhere since it forms no part of the invention.

The invention itself resides in the frame for supporting the front edge14 of the awning 10. This frame has a transverse front support arm 15adapted to be secured in any desirable manner upon the front edge 14 ofthe awning. At both ends the support arm 15 connects with collapsiblearm structures which are identical to each other. Each of these armstructures comprises a collapsible lazy tongue structure having at oneof its ends a pair of links 16 and 17 adapted for pivotal mounting upona wall or other support for the awning.

The links 16 and 17 are shown pivotally connected'upon brackets 18secured upon the building 12. The collapsible lazy tong structure isformed at its other end with a projecting support arm 19. Thearrangement is such that the lazy tong structure may be extended orretracted by pulling forward or pushing rearwards upon the projectingsupport arm 19. The links shown comprising the lazy tong structure, seeFig. 3 particularly, are shown double on certain lengths and usedsingularly on other lengths so as to form a firm supportingconstruction.The exact details of this particular lazy tong structure neednot be goneinto since it is immaterial how many links it is constructed of and asregards its details in the width. Similarly its length is alsoimmaterial but it is necessary that it terminate at the front end injust one projecting support arm.

The details of the lazy tong structure comprises a link 20 pivotallyconnected at its ends respectively with the front end of the link 16 and110 the rear end of the support arm 19. The link 17 pivotally connectsat the point 21, which is intermediately of its ends, with anintermediate point upon the link 20. A link 22 pivotally connects withthe front end of the link 17 and with an intermediate point 23 of theprojecting support arm 19. The lazy tong structure may be collapsed, asclearly indicated in Fig. 2 by the dot and dash lines. It is limited inits extension by a screw 24 which threadedly engages in the link so asto be adjustable as regards its extension, and the free end of thisscrew abuts against the side of the link 22. It will be noticed thatwhile the screw 24 limits the extent to which the lazy tong structurecan open it does not interfere with the closing of the lazy tongstructure from its open position.

Each of the arms forming the frame of the awning includes an arm 24having a lateral substantially U-shaped bend 25 at one end arranged sothat the outei` arm of the U-shaped bend terminates in an out-turnedfree end 26. The bend of the U-shaped bend and the outer arm is formedwith a longitudinal slot 27, shown clearly in Figs. 7 and 8. A screw 28engages through the longitudinal slot 27 and is supported upon theprojecting arm 19. The arm 24 is so arranged that the out-turned freeend 26 limits outward pivoting ci" the arm, with references to Fig. 3.

The arms 24' may pivot horizontally inwards as indicated by the dot anddash lines in Fig. 3 since the slots 27 may slide along beneath theheads of the screws 28. Upon the outer end of each oi the arms 24 thereis mounted a pivoted elbow comprising a socket member 29 hingedlyconnected with another socket member 30. 'Ihe arm 24' threadedly engagesin the socket member 29 allowing slight adjustments of the awning frameby reason of fully or partially engaging the threads. A link 3lthreadedly engages in the socket 30 and at its free end is connected bya bracket 32 with the end of the support arm 15. A spring 33 is locatedbetween the sockets 29 and 30 and more particularly upon the pivotsthereof and acts between these two sockets for normally urging them at aslight inclination towards each other. The full lines in Fig. 3 indicatethe position in which the sockets 29 and 30 are normally urged by thespring 33.

The operation of the awning frame may be understood by first imaginingthe awning in its extended position, as shown in Fig. 1. In thisposition the awning frame is as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Now then, whenthe awning is wound upon its roller it draws backwards on the supportarm 15 which bends sockets 29 and 30 upon their pivots to the positionsindicated by the dot and dash lines in Fig. 3. The joints of the arms 24at 25 may bend by themselves as the joints 29 and 30 bend, but if theydont it is merely necessary to manually help them get started. When theawning has thus been partially collapsed, say about half way, the arms24 will be fully pivoted inwards, and upon further winding up of theawning the lazy tong structure will be caused to collapse, until itassumes the position shown in Fig. 2. 'Ihe awning now is completely inits collapsed position. Upon extending the awning, first the springs 33extend the links 31 and the arms 24 and then the lazy tong structureextends until the awning is fully extended.

In Fig. 4 a modiiied form of the elbow upon each of the side armstructures in the awning frame is shown. More particularly this elbowcomprises sockets 29 and 30 pivotally connected by a rivet 33 and eachof the sockets is provided with square shaped or other similar shapedopenings 34 into which the ends of the arms 24' and links 31 engage. Setscrews 35 threadedly engage the sockets 29 and 30 and are adapted toabut against the ends of the arm 24 and the link 3l so as to hold theseparts in various extended positions which allow adjustments similar tothe threads in the form shown in Fig. 3. This elbow is also providedwith a spring 33 to cause the sockets 29 and 30 to assume the bentpositions previously described.

In Figs. 5-8 inclusive another form of the invention has been disclosedwhich utilizes the principle of the arm with the U-shaped bend aspreviously described. To better understand this form of the invention anawning 40 has been illustrated supported at its rear end 40 and havingits front end 42 attached upon the support arm 43. This support arm 43extends the full width of the awning. The awning frame is concluded byan arm 44 on each of the sides of the awning 40 and the arm 44 is formedwith a lateral sub- ,e

stantially U-shaped bend 25 at one end and the outer arm of the U-shapedbend is formed with an out-turned free end 26. The bend of the U-shapedbend 25 and the outer arm of said U-shaped bend is formed with alongitudinal slot 27. A screw 28 engages through the slot 27 and throughthe support arm 43.

The rear ends of the arms 44 are adapted to be pivotally connected withbrackets 45 for attachment upon the building or wall structure.,

The brackets 45 are so arranged as to allow the arms 44 to pivot in thevertical. When the awning frame is upon the awning, as shown in Fig. 5in use it does not diier from any of the commercial frames now on themarket. It is only when the awning is dismantled, that is, removed fromthe building, then the arms 44 may be pivoted to the collapsibleposition as shown in full lines in Fig. 6 or dot and dash lines in Fig.

7 to take up the smallest amount of compass and yet have its partsconnected in a unit. The arms 44 may pivot to a closed position byreason of the slots 27 sliding over the heads of the screws 28. In theextended position the free out-turned -to the bend 25 or the collapsiblestructure from4 bend 25 to the front support arm 15.

While we have shown and described the preferred embodiment of ourinvention, it is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to theprecise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to allchanges and modications coming within the scope of the invention asdened in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what We Aends 26 engage against theends of the supportr claim as new, and desire to secure by United lStates Letters Patent is:-

l. In an awning frame, an arm having a lateral substantially U-shapedbend at one end with an out-turned free end on the outer arm of saidU-shaped bend, the bend and the outer arm of said U-shape having alongitudinal slot, a support arm against the outer arm of said U-shapedbend, and a screw mounted upon said support arm engaging through saidlongitudinal slot for holding the arm movable from an extended positionin which said out-turned free end prevents further motion to a positionin which said arm is considered collapsed.

2. In an awning frame, an arm having a lateral substantially U-shapedbend at one end with an out-turned free end on the outer arm of saidU-shaped bend, the bend and the outer arm of said U-shape having alongitudinal slot, a support arm against the outer arm of said U-shapedbend, and a screw mounted upon said support arm engaging through saidlongitudinal slot for holding the arm movable from an extended p0-sition in which said out-turned free end prevents further motion to aposition in which said arm is considered collapsed, said U-shaped bendbeing so arranged as to roll along over the head of the supporting screwin moving from the extended to the collapsed position.

3. In an awning frame, arms adapted for pivotal connection on vtheirrear ends upon a wall and at their front ends having laterallysubstantially U-shaped bends with out-turned free ends upon the outerarms of said bends, the bends and outer arms of said U-shaped bendshaving longitudinal slots, a support arm for attachment upon the frontend of an awning and engageable against the outer arms of said U-shapedbends, and screws mounted upon said support arms and engaging throughsaid longitudinal slots for holding the arms movable from extendedpositions in which said out-turned free ends engage against said supportarm to positions in which said arms are substantially parallel with saidsupport arm.

4. In an awning frame, arms adapted for pivotal connection on their rearends upon a wall and at their front ends having lateral substantiallyU-shaped bends with out-turned free ends upon the outer arms of saidbends, the bends and outer arms of said U-shaped bends havinglongitudinal slots, a support arm for attachment upon the front end ofan awning and engageable against the outer arms of said U- shaped bends,and means projecting from the support arms and engaging through saidlongitudinal slots for holding the arms movable from extended positionsin which said out-turned free ends engage against said support arm topositions in which said arms are substantially parallel with saidsupport arms.

5. In an awning frame, arms adapted for pivotal connection on their rearends upon a wall and at their front ends having lateral substantiallyU-shaped bends with out-turned free ends upon the outer arms of saidbends, a support arm for attachment upon the front end of an awning andengageable against the outer arms of said U-shaped bends, and meansmounted upon the support arms and engaging the U-shaped bends forholding the arms movable from extended positions in which saidout-turned free ends engage against said support arm to positions inwhich said arms are substantially parallel with said support arm.

6. In an awning frame, arms adapted for pivotal connection on their rearends upon a wall 130 and at their front ends having lateralsubstantially U-shaped bends, the bends and outer arms of said U-shapedbends having longitudinal slots, a support arm for attachment upon thefront end of an awning and engageable against 135 the outer arms of saidU-shaped bends, screws mounted upon said support arms and engagingthrough said longitudinal slots for holding the arms movable fromextended positions to positions in which said arms are substantiallyparallel 110 with said support arm, and means for limiting the outwardmovement of the arms.

HENRY S. WILSON. HENRY LAUTEN.

